WELLS — The Maine Space Grant Consortium announced York County Community College and Southern Maine Community College have been awarded funds to pilot and evaluate a model that aims to increase the number of community college students that complete their degrees on time and pursue aerospace science and technology careers or transfer to four-year institutions to continue their science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
NASA is funding this pilot project through a two-year $495,910 award to the consortium from which SMCC will receive $231,045 and YCCC will receive $254,484. With the awards, SMCC and YCCC will implement the following activities:
Ӣ Three-semester scholarships for cohorts of first-year students at both colleges starting in their second semester and continuing to their fourth semester contingent on academic progress.
”¢ STEM Scholars Program as a STEM Learning Community to widen YCCC students’ horizons by introducing them to a wide spectrum of STEM research and scientific topics.
Ӣ Research internships for students at both colleges to experience research at Maine universities, colleges, research institutions, technology-based businesses, and NASA facilities.
Ӣ Bridge scholarships for students at both colleges that are admitted to four-year institutions to ease transition.
”¢ Infusion of NASA contents in YCCC’s biology, computer technology and microbiology courses.
Ӣ A faculty development program to train STEM faculty from all Maine community colleges on how to infuse NASA contents in their courses.
The consortium selected SMCC and YCCC for this pilot project because they represent different ends of the spectrum in degree programs and student characteristics among Maine community colleges. SMCC is the flagship community college in the Maine Community College System, is in a city setting, and is Maine’s largest and oldest community college, opening in 1946. SMCC is the only institution in the system offering associate’s degrees in biotechnology, computer science, marine science, and pre-engineering, and the state’s only associate degree program in composite science and manufacturing.
YCCC is in a rural setting, is the newest college in the system, and serves substantially more females and part-time students than all other MCCS institutions. YCCC offers associate degrees in STEM programs such as computer technology, digital media and precision machining technology. Students may take a variety of courses in these programs and in STEM areas such as biology, chemistry, environmental science, math, microbiology, and physics to satisfy degree requirements.
Despite their differences, both institutions are taking a similar approach in this pilot project to develop a NASA-based STEM connection that will help them improve retention, graduation, and transfer rates to four-year institutions. SMCC’s approach serves as a framework for developing additional extended STEM programs within its marine science department over the next several years. YCCC’s approach could instill a sense of curiosity in their students about STEM topics, foster an appreciation for the breadth of STEM knowledge, build the confidence of their STEM students, and help them transfer to four-year institutions. Over time, YCCC wants to include an undergraduate research experience in its STEM lab courses that would help increase the number of students taking science courses.
“Many YCCC students have the capacity to continue on beyond the associate degree in a STEM area of study. This grant will give us the opportunity to create a greater interest in STEM study through the scholarships and grant-funded activities,” said Paula Gagnon, vice president and dean of Academic Affairs at YCCC. “We also hope to give our students more self-confidence in their academic skills and potential and provide a better understanding of the opportunities that exist beyond YCCC for STEM study and exciting careers in the STEM fields.”
The results of this pilot project should inform NASA how further investments could support Maine community colleges in their efforts to increase STEM student recruitment, retention and graduation rates, and transfer rates to four-year institutions, preferably in Maine.
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